Does the total 3.5T include the vehicle weight and the payload?

[Tanya Adams]

Im deciding to either get a trailer or a box but before i do, i can only drive upto 3.5T on my current license so i was wondering (as ive been getting alot of conflicting information from people!) does the total weight of 3.5T include the vehicle weight and the payload?

 

[Prancerpoos]

Yes it does, and you and your horse(s) and fuel and tack etc. etc. will all weigh a lot more than you think! Don't plan on getting more than one horse in there, although 2 small ponies would probably be OK.

 

[Tanya Adams]

Awesome! Thank you this saves me alot of hassle! i thought i would have to get a HGV license!

 

[AandK]

Yes it does, 3.5t will be the GVW (gross vehicle weight). If you buy a 3.5t lorry, you need to find out its unladen weight (take it to a weigbridge) so you can work out the payload to make sure you have enough. For example, I used to have a little lorry, it was 2.6t unladen so I had 900kg payload, this was plenty for me, horse (550kg) and all my kit etc.

 

[ROG]

Load it up and take it directly to your nearest weighbridge
If overloaded return directly to where it was loaded and reduce the load
Legal to to that unless it is deemed dangerous such as you set out with all the tyre looking very flat !!

 

[Annagain]

Most 3.5T already weigh around 2.5T so you can normally only put 900 - 1100kg on them. This includes horse, you, fuel, tack, water, haynets etc. As a rule of thumb you need 1T per horse by the time you've taken its rider and all the stuff they both need into account. Anything that offers a bigger payload will need checking very thoroughly as important safety features might have been left out to reduce weight. Reputable brands are the way to go with 3.5Ts.

 

[Merry neddy man]

Don't believe all weight certificates, sellers have been known to remove partitions spare wheel even passenger seats rubber matting etc and take it to weighbridge with just a gallon of fuel in. Certificate is correct at time of weighing but back at the yard with everything replaced it's a different weight altogether. You only know its weight by being there at the time it's weighed. Most scrap yards have a weight bridge and will weigh a vehicle for a small fee. You can Google local weighbrige sites there will always be one even if the sellers say there isn't (due to them not wanting you to know it's TRUE weight)

 

[PeteJS]

My local quarry will let you use the weight bridge for free as long as you don’t want them to provide a certificate. They can provide a certificate but I have never bothered with one as I just wanted to check I was not overloaded.

 

[PeterNatt]

This may help you work out how much everything weighs and why you need a 1.2 Ton payload at least.

575Kg Weight of Horse
10Kg Riding hat, body protector, gloves, whip, lunge line, competition boots and yard boots
25Kg 2 x saddles, saddle cloth, girths, stirrups and bridles
40Kg 2 x 20 Litres water canisters (A 16hh horse can drink between 30-70 litres a day. Always ensure you travel with water in case of breakdown
10Kg Tack cleaning kit, grooming kit and horse and rider first aid, water bucket, muck rake and scoop
20Kg 2 x Haynets
100Kg Fuel tank of fuel and spare wheel
10Kg Cooler Rug, fly sheet, travel rug
200Kg Rider with 2 passengers
10Kg Picnic lunch, flasks, water bottles, handbags,
1,000Kg Total

 

[All]

if this helps
a standard iveco van (not a horse van/box) weighs just less than 2 ton unladan / (kerb weight including fuel) it had a paylod of 1,220kg, total mass was 3.2 ton but can tow 2.8 ton as well if you have a traler license gross train weight was 6 ton which allow for a traler = max pay load 3,020kg including a 1 ton traler

the new vw crafters and iveco vans both have a towing capacity of 3.5 ton

if you can follow that

 

[lannerch]

Trailer also includes the weight of your car so most 4x4 will be too heavy.